After serving its last drink at 73rd and Amsterdam on Saturday, a 67-year-old Upper West Side institution gets dismantled.

Published Jul 17, 2009 at 10:47 PM

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As the bar prepares to move north, the classic P&G Cafe neon has been dismantled and awaits its fate.

Manhattan barflies have been dreading this day for a long time, and it's finally come: As the P&G Café prepares for its move, the iconic neon sign presided over the corner of 73rd and Amsterdam since 1942 has been taken down.

Back in December, we talked about the news that the Upper West Side dive bar extraordinaire P&G Café was planning to relocate to a space at 78th and Columbus. At least it wasn't outright closing, but we were worried about the owner's purported plans to "swank up" the lovably old-school joint in its new incarnation with teriyaki burgers and the like.

And now, Lost City gives us this very sad photo of the P&G's iconic pink-and-green neon sign - star of Seinfeld establishing shots and many nightcaps after shows at the nearby Beacon - taken down, and awaiting its uncertain fate. It's been said that the sign may or may not survive the transition to the new address.